I don’t know about you, but having underarm odor is one of the most embarrassing things for a girl or a guy. Having to avoid someone with bad body odor is hard to cover up. As a teenager or as an adult, this awkward situation is something that can be avoided with the right combination of products.

Did you know that sweat is actually odorless inside the body?

When perspiration is exposed to the atmosphere chemical changes happen. Bacteria on the surface processes the perspiration, causing odor. On average people have 3 to 4 million sweat glands! It’s no wonder Americans are obsessed with great smelling sprays, perfumes, deodorants and antiperspirants!

There are two sweat glands, the eccrine and apocrine. Things like exercise, stress, eating spicy food, hormones, diseases, taking strong medication, running a fever, gastro problems and prolonged infections cause these glands to work overtime to cool off our bodies.

To reduce odor, bacteria on the skin should either be eliminated or out run by good bacteria to create a friendly, less odiferous environment. Good hygiene can go a long way in reducing odor as well as avoiding caffeine, spicy foods and even red meat.

Heidi Leist, a mom on a mission to provide a fresh, clean & natural pampering skin care option for her family as well as yours, founded Lemongrass Spa fourteen years ago. In honor of Mother’s Day, we want to help celebrate the beautiful, amazing women who have shaped our Lemongrass Spa ‘family’.

We’d love to hear about how your mom, grandmother or stepmother pampered her family. Let us know in the comments!

Lemongrass Spa was founded by a mom on a mission to provide fresh, clean & natural pampering skin care options for her family as well as yours. Families continue to be the inspiration behind developing safe, effective and luxurious skin care. Every mom has her favorites, but these are some of our basics for mom, dad and kids.

Healing Elements – #1 best seller four years in a row!

What began as a quest to formulate the perfect diaper rash cream, free from talc and other irritating and potentially dangerous ingredients, turned into the development of a comforting balm for every member of the family. Non-nanoparticle zinc oxide, the #1 pediatrician recommended rash-healing ingredient, combined with anti-inflammatory calendula oil and the restorative blend of shea butter, mango butter and coconut oil helps calm minor skin conditions like rashes, burns and bites. Healing Elements Balm is available in a Family Sized 6 oz jar, travel sized 2 oz jar and purse-friendly Glide-on-Stick.

Let’s be real here - mom does it all. She manages the house, soothes skinned knees and cuddles away the nightmares. Ask any mom when she last took time for herself, and she’ll probably say "Time for me? What’s that?"

Most moms can’t get away for a spa weekend, but you should carve out, at least, some time from your busy life that’s just for you and your friends too! At a Lemongrass Spa Party, whether you’re a mom, wife, grandma or a ‘mom-to-be’ we know that most women love the gift of pampering. Our Mother’s Day themes and bundles are designed with all sorts of goodies that moms especially love healthy and natural!

Here are a few entertaining party ideas to pamper those special women in your life.

Recently I have seen many questions regarding more mature skin and its appearance with powdered mineral makeup. To this topic, I can speak with a bit of experience. A few precious months away from the big Five-Oh, I can tell you that I, like some of you, cannot wear the powdered minerals by themselves. Living in Colorado, my skin tends to be on the dry side and the powder alone can make my skin appear a little less youthful than I would like. I would LOVE to have the wrinkle and fine line free skin of my youth, but alas, those days are in my rearview mirror. However, hydrating and smoothing out the appearance of my skin with the Lemongrass Spa’s line of skin care and Sheer Minerals cosmetics is instrumental in keeping my skin healthy, moisturized and youthful.

Dehydration is a wrinkles best friend. Drink plenty of water, herbal tea and juice.

Pore Cleansing. When pores become congested with makeup, dead skin cells and dirt, they can appear larger and disrupt the smooth appearance of the skin. Using Microdermabrasion Crème and our clay-based facemasks once a week, as well as a daily toner, can cleanse and tighten the pores resulting in a smoother more youthful surface.

Nightly Serum regime. I cannot express enough the difference I have seen in my skin since I began using the Organic Anti Aging Oil Serum. It has been astounding to see the change from dull and dry to bright and supple.

Eye makeup remover. Pulling and stretching the skin around our eyes to remove makeup can damage the very delicate skin. Be gentle around this area that is so prone to damage. Use our emollient rich Organic Eye Makeup Remover for a dual-purpose eye makeup remover and vitamin rich healing moisturizer.

Primer OR BB Crème. I wouldn't recommend using both since the BB crème acts as a primer serum and foundation in one and can create a little too much "slip" for your blush and eye color to stay in place. The last thing you need is to look like you are melting.

If the BB Crème is not enough coverage for you, you can use both the powder and the BB Crème for a flawless finish. You can also combine your mineral foundation and your primer for the same effect. I like to tap a little bit of the powdered foundation into my Minerals Mate Mixing and Application Tray and then pump a small amount of BB Crème into a separate spot on the tray. Using my Kabuki Brush, I dab the brush into the BB Crème and then dip it into the powdered foundation and blend in a circular motion on my face. They blend beautifully and create a nice, light matte coverage without the tendency to "crack" in the wrinkles and fine lines.

Onward and upward. Whatever you are putting on your face after the foundation, blend UP. Whether its eye shadow, blush or bronzer, defy the effects of gravity by blending color upward.

Highlight to create a dewy look. Whatever blush or bronzer you have applied, mix it with a couple shakes of White Diamond Eye Shadow and dust on the prominent areas of your face (forehead, nose, cheekbones and chin) for a youthful sheen.

Ending on the same note I began, hydration: Use your Mineral Setting Spray frequently throughout the day. Bring your makeup and skin back to life with a spritz of setting spray multiple times daily. It brightens the look of your makeup as well as moisturizes and plumps the skin. Neroli is also a fantastic anti-aging ingredient for the skin.

Smile!! Nothing looks more youthful than a bright, welcoming smile.

“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.” Audrey Hepburn

Mango butter is traditionally used in tropical regions to moisturize and heal skin but has found its way into Western skin care treatments. This fast absorbing, non-greasy fat is lightly scented, off-white in color and a solid at room temperature. Mango butter is extracted from the pulp of the mango seed, which is rich in oleic and stearic acidsand omega-9. It is similar to cocoa butter with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and antiseptic properties.

Mango butter is often used in wound care due to its ability to regenerate skin. In a study performed to test the effectiveness of mango butter on wound healing, specifically cracked skin, results demonstrated mango butter to completely repair skin and predominantly be “antiseptic, healing, soothing and cooling in most of the clinical subjects” as well as “actively replenish[ing] moisture, leaving the skin looking silky smooth and hydrated.”

Dry Skin

Mango butter increases hydration and is presumed to prevent drying of skin by reducing water loss from the epidermis. It’s used to treat dryness caused by eczema and psoriasis plus itchiness from rashes and bug bites.

Used across the globe for centuries, plant essences played a substantial role in medicinal preparations and religious ceremonies. These essences evolved to what we now know as essential oils. While still used for medical and religious purposes, essential oils developed a contemporary following for relaxation, massage and skincare and as a mood booster. Lemongrass Spa Products mission is not only to provide fresh, clean & natural products for the entire family but also to provide an indulgent spa experience from the comfort of your own home. Here are some tips and recipes for enhancing your home spa experience using essential oils.

Diffusing

Create a romantic, uplifting, relaxing or other desirable ambiance by diffusing essential oils in your home or car. People diffuse oils purely for the love of a scent, aromatherapy benefits or both. Whatever your reason, it is recommended you use an electric nebulizer or diffuser (steam or fan) to maintain the molecular integrity of the compound because essential oils can breakdown if exposed to heat. Lemongrass Spa Products now offers three diffuser choices: Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser (steam), Aroma to GoPortable Diffuser (fan) and a new Car Diffuser (fan). Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the diffuser to enjoy the aroma throughout your home or car. As an added bonus, a study published in t

People are more aware now than ever of what ingredients are being put onto their skin. There are so many harmful chemicals found in everyday products, such as sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals and fragrances. One of the ingredients that raises the most questions and concerns are phthalates.

“What are phthalates?” Phthalates are found in many scented and cosmetic products, such as perfumes, lotions, creams, powders, deodorants, nail polish and hair spray. They help stabilize the fragrance, increase spreadability and enhance absorption. This causes the chemicals to be absorbed through the skin and into the blood stream. The many types of phthalates include DBP, DEP, DEHP, BzBP and DMP, but don’t bother memorizing them because they will usually appear under the name “fragrance” or “parfum” on labels. Unless the label specifically states “no synthetic fragrance”, “scented with only essential oils”, or the product specifically claims to be phthalate-free then it is possible that at least one of the phthalates listed above is included.

“Why are phthalates bad for you?” The dictionary definition of a phthalate is “a salt or ester of phthalic acid that is commonly used as plasticizers in PVC; when ingested they can cause kidney and liver damage.” Based on this definition it is clear to see why people would be hesitant in using products containing phthalates. Research has also proven that phthalates are known endocrine disruptors and can cause an array of problems from infertility to genital birth defects and possible carcinogens. There are still unknown side effects being tested as a result of these concerns.

Considering the new information about adverse health effects, Lemongrass Spa Products decided to switch all their fragranced items over to phthalate-free versions in 2008 and has since been an entirely phthalate-free company. When enjoying our scented products, such as Hydrating Body Mist, Body Icing and Hand and Body Lotion, we can assure you that we are using reputable essential oils and phthalate–free fragrances, keeping you and your family’s health and safety in mind.

When it comes to makeup, the area we can have the most fun, and be the most creative with, are our eyes. We can simply apply a little mascara to sport a natural look, or go for the drop dead diva smokey eye, the trendy winged look or create a look all our own. There are so many ways to highlight, frame, enhance, shape and bring out the windows to our soul. Below are just a few!!

The Natural Look

Sweep the entire eyelid in a nude colored eye shadow such as Sand Pearl or Matte Mocha and apply Brown or Black Organic Mascara to the upper lashes only, concentrating on the outer lashes to uplift the eye. Using your Eyeliner Brush, use the same nude shadow to line the lower lash line to both corners to open the eye.

Plant essences have been used for thousands of years to harmonize mind, body and spirit. It is believed the aroma produced by a plant’s essential oil stimulates the sections of the brain responsible for emotions and memory to positively effects mood plus interacts with the body’s hormones to influence specific functions. As a compliment to our home spa experience, Lemongrass Spa unveiled an organic essential oil collection last year, and to further our commitment to providing both purposeful and indulgent products for the entire family, we’re introducing four divine new essential oils to the lineup.

There has been a lot of interest in mixing Sheer Minerals, and why not?! Whether you’re interested in creating a sweet pastel for Spring, or a bright and bold shade for Summer, it's always good to start out with the right tools to mix your colors.

Palette

My preference for the perfect palette is the Minerals Mate mixing tray. It has several small bowls to play with different options. The shallow divots make it easier to mix your colors thoroughly without spilling, and if you make one you really love, you can simply place one of the covers over it and save it. If you don’t have a Mineral Mates, you can use a small jar. An empty Sheer Minerals jar would be a great way to recycle. Be sure and make note of the amounts of each color you have combined so it is easier to re-create your masterpiece.

Scooping and Mixing

If you have access to a small cosmetic spatula, they make great scoops and blenders for your colors. Scoop and tap a little color into your pallet or jar and stir and “chop” them together OR If you are using a recycled jar, you can simply put the cap on and shake to mix your colors.

Determining your skin type is simple but very important when figuring out what products to use and how to treat your skin. Knowing your skin type and conditions allows you to create your own skincare routine based on your skin’s personal needs. Keep in mind that our skin changes daily, seasonally, yearly and so on. It is always beneficial to evaluate where your skin is from time to time and make sure you are taking care of it properly. This will help lessen the frequency of skin problems. If your skin is not in the condition you would like it to be in, use the information below as a guide to help you.

There are four different skin types, normal, oily, dry and combination. The way you figure out what type of skin you have is your pore size. Do not look at any other skin conditions such as acne, hyperpigmentation, redness, and sensitivity. I will be going over those shortly. Normal skin, which is the ideal skin type, means you can see your pores, but they are not enlarged. If you are up close in a mirror and can see your pores, take a couple steps back and see if you can still see them. If you can’t, you have normal skin. If you step back from the mirror and can still see your pores, you have enlarged pores which means you have oily skin. If you can’t see any pores at all on your skin, then your skin type is dry. The most common skin type is combination, meaning that you have two different pore sizes on your face. Most people have a larger pore size in their T -zone (chin, nose and forehead) and that is why you see skin care companies market to combination/oily and combination/dry skin types; they gear their ingredients towards being beneficial for all skin types.

Contrary to what most people believe, you cannot change your pore size. Your pore size is genetic and it can change over time, but topical ingredients will not change the actual size. There are certain ingredients and precautions you can take to make them appear smaller and keep them clear, but the size you are born with is what you have to work with. Keep in mind that each skin type has its own battles (even dry and normal). Large pores, when kept clear, can produce enough oils on your skin to keep you looking youthful longer. There are pros and cons to every skin type, but accepting what you have and working with it is what will help you achieve your best skin.

Once you have determined your skin type, the next step is to look at what conditions you have. The most common skin conditions are acne, hyperpigmentation, skin texture, redness, sensitivity, scarring, wrinkles and fine lines. There are many companies that gear entire skin care lines towards these conditions. The easiest way to determine whether or not you need an entire line based on your condition is how much of your face it covers. If the condition covers the majority of your skin, I advise you to treat the condition first. I will use acne as an example. If acne is covering the majority of your face, then I would suggest using an acne line first. Most companies build their lines to work together and are more effective when used together. For instance an acne line may have a cleanser with tea tree oil in it to treat the acne and a skin lightener in the face crème to help with scars. Once that line has helped clear your skin and acne is no longer a condition (or covering the majority of the your face) go back to using skincare products for your skin type and spot treat if necessary. The most common mistake I see people make is they have one or two blemishes which leads them to think they have oily acne prone skin, therefore use an entire acne line. Their skin then becomes dry and irritated, normally causing the problem to get worse because they went about treating their skin wrong. You don’t have to have oily skin to have acne; this is why it is very important to know your skin type first. If you only have a couple of blemishes and the condition is not covering the majority of your skin, I advise using the skincare line based on your skin type and just spot treat for the condition; this way the majority of your skin stays balanced. You can, however, treat different conditions at the same time. If you have a couple lines on your forehead and some acne on your chin, go ahead and use a skincare line based on your skin type, and use a treatment for wrinkles on your forehead and a different treatment for acne on your chin.

By plugging in different skin conditions and types to the scenario above you should be able to come to a pretty clear conclusion on how to go about treating your skin. When in doubt always ask an esthetician or dermatologist to help guide you in the right direction.

Flaking, redness, cracking and acne are a few problems your skin could be struggling to fight during winter months unless you live in a tropical climate. Low precipitation, dry indoor air heat and hot showers zap moisture from skin leading to these challenges, but you can restore balance and hydration to parched skin, while soothing itchy irritated areas, with a few of Lemongrass Spa’s preferred healing ingredients.

Avocado Oil

Avocados are known to contain vitamins and fats essential for a well balanced diet, but when applied to the skin, avocado oil has amazing benefits. It is packed with nutrients vital for glowing, youthful skin such as monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. Avocado oil penetrates deep into the dermis delivering these nutrients and drawing in moisture, providing long-lasting hydration. As we age, collagen, the main component of connective tissue, breaks down and production decreases; avocado oil is thought to help boost collagen production leading to smoother, younger looking skin. Avocado oil also helps soothe irritations caused by skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Can you believe the first month of 2016 is already coming to a close? A new year signifies rebirth, renewal, revitalization…and reorganization! Spring-cleaning gets all the reorganizing glory, but the start of a new year is an excellent time to regroup. As you’re re-evaluating and resetting goals and resolutions, spending a little time reorganizing (or in some cases getting organized) your business allows you to focus your attention on pampering your customers. Regardless of your businesses goals, these tips can help get you ready for an influx of new customers and hostesses this year.

Customers

Keeping track of your customers’ wish lists and past orders is an important part of growing your business, as well as a means to providing superior customer service. One way to keep customers organized is by creating a rotating “tickler file” for when to contact customers. There are a few different ways you could do this, and you’ll find a system that works for you. One low-tech method is to keep an index card for each customer with basic contact information and frequency of contact. For example, the two of you may have decided you’ll touch base every other month for re-ordering. If they’re a new customer, we suggest calling within two days of the party to tell her how much you appreciate the order and again in two weeks (or after you get the shipping notification in your backoffice) to make sure she has received her products. If you’d rather go high-tech, utilize your phone’s calendar/reminder function to notify you when it’s time to make your customer calls. As you get to know your customers and their ordering needs, you’ll find a contact frequency that works for them. A few reasons outside of reorders your customers might want to hear from you are holidays, personal events, like anniversaries and birthdays, flash sales and specials on their favorite products.

Taxes

I can’t give you tax advice, but I can give you a few tips to making tax-time a little easier. Jennifer Dusza, our Consultant Relations Manager, recommends the “envelope system” to keep everything organized. At the beginning of each month start a business expense envelope, and when the month’s over, close it up, file it and start an envelop for the next. At the end of the year, ideally, you would have twelve large envelopes with all of your business expenses. Your tax professional can advise you on exactly what you should save and track for your business, but here a few ideas:

Olive oil’s lush history is as deep and rich as the golden hued substance itself. Native to Mediterranean countries, ancient cultures used olive oil for a variety of every day purposes such as food, fuel, beauty and possibly currency, and evidence suggests production began over 5,000 years ago. Revered for its health benefits, olive oil is the number one recommended fat for cooking and is now a staple of modern kitchens, but olive oil’s health benefits don’t stop with food. Olive oil is used to maintain the health of skin, nails and hair.

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. Now that we are all settling back into our routines, most of us are setting out to achieve our New Year’s resolutions. Whether it is to be more fit, find more time for yourself or eat healthier one of the easiest resolutions you can achieve is better skin!

Since there are many skincare myths, sometimes it can discourage people from starting a great skincare routine. Below I am going to answer some of the most common myths to help put your mind at ease.

Myth #1 You should only use oil-free products on oily skin.

It is now known that using oil on oily skin can help bring balance to the skin. People who have oily skin tend to strip it of all its natural oils and in return the skin overcompensates and produces more oil. This can be a tough cycle to break. If you are dealing with oily skin it is acceptable to use an oil-free product during the day and use oil at night. During the day you can obtain the benefits of matte skin by using an oil-free moisturizer and at night you can focus on rebalancing your skin with oil. Grape seed and jojoba oil are great for oily skin and those emollients are in our Tea Tree Face Crème.

From revealing a brand new magazine-style catalog, to launching a line of certified organic essential oils, to being named to the Top 100 Women Owned Companies for the second time, 2015 has been an incredible year for growth and opportunity. Here's our 2015 year in review.

Products

The introduction of innovative new products is one of the key elements in engaging our customers and creating excitement for our sales consultants. Sheer Minerals BB Crème (Beauty Balm) was a huge hit with our customers and consultants. This lightweight tinted moisturizer was offered in five shades to provide a ‘liquid foundation’ to those who prefer it. Inspired by the Pantone Color of the Year, Merlot Organic Crème Lipstickand Marsala Blush quickly became favorites among makeup wearers. An essential oil collection, complete with Fractionated Coconut Oil and rollerball vials for mixing blends, was introduced in the summer. Tea Tree, Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint single oils plus Immune Boost, Balancing Act and Mint Revival blends were offered to customers, in addition to many essential oil products we’ve been selling for years. We launched a revolutionary Prebiotic Facial Wash and Facial Mist at our annual convention in July. In addition to the popular Prebiotic Body Wash, this organic, GMO-free product works on a molecular level by stimulating good microorganisms on the skin and promoting collagen production. Prebiotic Foaming Liquid Soap was introduced in four varieties including Mandarin Orange, Candy Cane, Tea Tree with Citrus andUnscented.

We are nearing the end of 2015 and while Pantone has announced their colors of the year for 2016, I don’t think we are going to say goodbye to Marsala anytime soon. Our Marsala Blush and Merlot Organic Crème Lipstick belong in our Sheer Minerals Hall of Fame! Classics transcend trends.

However, now that Pantone has announced their new colors, you can expect the fashion and design worlds will follow suit in makeup, clothing, accessories and home décor. The 2016 Pantone colors of the year are (drumroll please….) Rose Quartz and Serenity. Pantone threw us all for a loop when they announced the 2016 colors of the year; it’s the first time ever two complementing hues have been chosen. Rose Quartz is a cool soft pink reminiscent of the palest part of a rose petal. Serenity is a light fluffy powder blue, like a baby blanket. Together they look like sugary, airy cotton candy.

The following trends for 2016 are perfectly in tune with these new colors:

Cocoa butter has been used for centuries to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. Although there is limited research regarding the correlation between cocoa butter and disappearing scars, a few small studies showing the potential for cocoa butter to maintain skin’s suppleness and elasticity. Because hydration is known for improving the appearance of skin, applying moisturizing cocoa butter can be effective in reducing scars.